SHENZHEN writer Luo Xiao-ying has never been to Brazil, but her collection of essays will soon appear there, the first Chinese mainland book published in the country.

Two Brazilian publishing houses, Abril and MGT, will publish Luo's book "Life Is Like a River in a Forest" this year under an agreement signed in 2004 with China's publication authority, the State Copyright Bureau (SCB) and several mainland publication houses. "Life" was chosen from 1,500 books recommend by the SCB to promote book exchanges between China and Brazil.

First published in China in 2003 by the Writers' Publishing House, Luo's book includes 42 essays on her life in Baise, a mountainous district in Southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. It describes the folk customs of the Zhuang ethnic group as well as the beautiful scenery of the district where she grew up. "Life Is Like a River" will be published in Brazil this month.

The book has already triggered Brazilian interest in the Zhuang culture. Earlier this year, the National TV Station of Brazil asked Luo's help in shooting a three-hour documentary on the Zhuang.

Based on a trip back to Baise by Luo, the video includes Zhuang customs, some of which have never before been recorded. The six-episode documentary will be shown in Brazil in October.

"The TV station had planned to shoot a 30-minute documentary, but decided to expand the program to 240 minutes after watching the first footage," said Luo. The original footage includes the dances of Black-Clothes Zhuang, a tribe of the Zhuang ethnic group who are distinguished by always wearing black clothing.

In conjunction with the broadcast, exhibitions on the Zhuang culture will be held in two major Brazilian cities, Sao Paulo and Salvador.

To promote the Brazilian culture in China, the Brazil authorities have invited Luo to visit the country and write travel stories. Her visits will also be made into a six-episode documentary in 2007.

Born to a Zhuang family, Luo enrolled in the Guangxi University of Nationalities in 1977 to study Chinese literature. She was one of the first students to enter college through examinations after the "Cultural Revolution." She later earned some recognition as a writer in Baise.

Her best-known stories were based on her life as a forestry worker before she entered college. Luo followed her husband to Shenzhen in 1994 and now works as an editor for a local magazine.

Editor: Wing